Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-08-31

animons outpouring of the Republican peo-
pie to the polls. There would have been no
one to resent such action except the few
who had selfish purposes to subserve. If
the committee had re-afirmed the Republi.
can platform of 1885 and then flung the flag
to the wind, invoking the spirit of 1879 and
inviting the Republican masses everywhere
through the Commonwealth to gather in
their respective bailiwicks at their own
time and in their own way to send delegates
to such convention as was held at Mozart
Hall in 1879, then, according to their own
will, to organize the party, prepare its plat
form and choose its leaders-then we should
have had solid column against Democracy
and a spirit throughout the column which
in victory or defeat would have been that of
harmony and enthusiasm. As it is, if the
old methods are to be pursued; if loyalty to
an Individual is to be made the test of Re-
publicanism; if the machinery of the party
is to override it's membership and the peo-
pie are to have no part, except to register
the edicts of the Executive Committee, the
fate which overlook us in 1883, 1884, and
1886 (and would have overwhelmed US in
1886 but that the people took the matter
into their own hands, will be the inevitable
end.
THE REPUBLICAN WATERLOO.
l do not know what can now be done to
avert that calamity. The responsibility
for it, if it come, must rest on those who
thus bring the issue to point SO narrow
that there seems room for but one man and
his personal adherents to stand on. read
this address, with its platitudes about mat
tiers of which one half of the people know
nothing and the other half care nothing.
and compare it with the ringing call sent
forth from Richmond and signed by patrio-
tic men from every CORNER of the State in
1879. I look for those men-where are
theyp Jostled from the path of service by
q persistent refusal to consult their rights
or the will of their constituents.
The path of Republicanism in this State
from 1879 until now is strewn with the
corpses, not of its opponents, but Of those
who we're its earliest pioneers and most
doughty champions. The brilliant staff
aud the devoted army have been forced, by
one misguided purpose, to lay their bones
in the Egypt, Spain, and Russia of rash
political enterprises. The Moreaus have
been escri6ced-they were too near the
throne. The Lopchets and McDonalds
have been sent INTO exile. The Murats and
St. Cyrs have been driven into opposition
army itself, what is left of it, has become a
mere instrument to be hurled, hither or
thither, regardless of loss, regardless of all
higher s:ms than the will and the objects
of those controlling forces which will not
be satisfied until they have REACHED their
Waterloo.
FALSE ISSUE RAISED.
At this juncture of affairs, it seems to
me. no Republican should justify his own
supineness by that of others or submit to
wrong because the task Of, Fighting it seems
difficult. There is room yet to redeem
everything if an appeal be made to the peo-
pie. A false issue has been raised, and we
have been carried by excess of authority to
the very ground on which the Democrats
would chose to fight this battle. Let the
senatorship be sent to the rear for the pres
ent. Let the people. is the right to control
their own affairs be denied them, take it.
Who can hinder thema The issue is not
now who shall be senator, but whether the
Republicans shall obtain a majority in the
Legislature, and so be able, among other
publican senator. But the greatest issue
&c all is whether the people constituting
this party shall be permitted TO direct its
not 10 for the raonla To have control IF the
oroanizat;on IF that he az. the sooner If
shsII ba sdm;tted the halter for a marty
which ia NOT fit IN covern itself would he
varv rnfit 70 oovern.tbe state or evan Ia
seJsot TTni+ed states senator
','0''' : z - -,-a.--..,u
REPUBLICAN ~ hot.oN.
"Have you any reason to believe, Govern
or, that the views you have expressed are
shared By any considerable number OF lead
ing Republicans and OF the rank and lille OF
the party?" asked the reporter
81 have the best evidence" replied Gov
ernof Cameron. (which can exist OF that
fact in the voluntary approach to me every
day in person and by letter, from every
portion OF the state, expressing the sub
stance OF what has been said, and urgently
9sking what can be done to avert the dan
ger. Go not know, OF course, to what ex-
tent these gentlemen represent majority
OF the party, but | 90 know that they speak
for an element which in the past has been
and which now is indispensable to the sue
cess OF the party. Their names might be
stated, but it seems better to let each speak
for himself or to await what is possible,
statement in which we shall all join.
A REPUBLICAN DEFEAT PREDICTED.
To uo,, think this claimant will take anv
aotiva stans in, the cj;root;on ;nd;cated9
Yes. I know avery iegitin,ate effort will
he made to impress its inflnence on tEe
urinary meetings. If wonld have heen far
preferable that 2 State convention shonld
have heen held for then ali matters of diff.
ference MIGHT have been fnllv discussed
and every chance taken for REMOVING the
causes. ks # il. there ;e rothinp left hut
snhm;ss;on or a Direct annaaI II Tia nsonia
and the latter will he made in some form
or cnnrsa IL will he said that ali snch
roovsrnants are d;ractad win r;1v +o tbe Ar
foot of Gen Mahone. hat in NV ;rdgmant
without some snch movement not onIy Cen
Mahone hut~which ia of inf;n;taIy moro
;r.rortance in evsrv eya save that Of the
s-ato Evoc,.t;ra C,u3,;ttaoItha ponrhI;,
can nartv mus ba ovartaIon Nv a defeat
r rao t irro,srobie T., 1nh;nS aen NJ
bono norId no ;nvo,vod A. sa;S oh,ve
J., ,,ot ooos;J -, ~, oI,o+;oo of n -, M,hooo
~ W h ~ ;nd;sr,ono,,io W tSs oooS 49,
State of Virginia or of the Republican party.
nor am | one of those who believe that both
sseale ana parry H'gee hos survive MS re-
truo waro = trma thot ths sSo;S;st r Of